slice of life microfic in one of my settings

Twilight sighed. "You do amazing work, Rarity. Even when you're just setting up beach chairs for the attempted relaxation."

"Well, darling, I can't take all the credit. The lovely little Supersprites handle so much for me, I can't help but owe them thanks."

Twilight shrugged. "Still, it's amazing. And to think they were a pest before."

"It's become very clear to me that certain things, some naturally occurring magical phenomena, can simply be redirected using the temporal and -- " She paused. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry."

"Thank you." Twilight giggled. "But tell me later. Just no shop talk during down time."

Rarity sipped daintily at her cosmarepolitan, nodding. "Agreed. And we certainly don't need to give Pinkie any new ideas -- "

"Hey you two! How are two of my favorite mares in the whole wide world?" Pinkie bounded over to hug Rarity, and then hug Twilight with a brief kiss and giggle. "And how is my lovey dovey special marefriend?"

"I'm fine, Pinkie. And I love you too."

Pinkie gasped! "Twiiiiii! You said no mushy stuff!"

"And you said that you always mean 'I love you' when you kiss me. So there."

Pinkie shrugged while Rarity laughed. "You two were *so* not who I expected to maybe get together."

Pinkie said, "I know, right? You'd almost think it was purely from a story that hadn't even come out yet!"

Twilight glanced at Rarity, then shook her head. "I'm never gonna totally understand you, am I?"

"Twilight, you know nopony can ever truly know another! You taught me the wisdom yourself!" She grinned, then turned and smiled at the edge of the park. "Oh, hey! AJ came by!"

"It's so good to see you all!" Applejack hugged all, then plopped into the fourth beach chair, empty, and with an appletini on the table. "I'm startin' to get a feel for this 'relaxing' thing sometimes, not gonna lie."

"Yes! It's so good when we get to spend time together, lovelies. We should consider the spa next time, however."

"We'll see," Pinkie said, smiling. "Hey! Maybe Spike will come by! Did you make sure you sent an s-mail?"

"Yes, yes. And he said he promised he would if he can. He knows where we are this weekend."

"Well, I hope he does. It'd be nice to see how much he's grown..."

Twilight coughed slightly.

A short, uncomfortable silence followed; Pinkie, naturally, broke it. "Oh! And let's play cards? I have a new one. It's like regular poker, but an optional rule can make it super strategic!"

"Laaater, Pinkie. We aren't socially lubricated enough to try to not think too hard about a game on. C'mon, Miss Pie. Sit and relax as hard as you can."

Pinkie did, and Spike even showed up eventually -- and despite every possibility otherwise, they had a little while to relax, and it was a little bit like the days when things were easier.